The Honda HAD a trans problem but haven't seen it in units made for the last several years. The mantis does use an Echo engine and Echo engines are very good. You're really back to the same engine decisions you had when buying the trimmer. The thing is the little extra weight of the 4 stroke may be an issue with some when it comes to line trimmers, it is an advantage on mini tillers. Slit tines work good for de-thatching but are not aerators. You need a big heavy plugger for proper aeration. Most folks simply don't need an aerator. Excessive high foot traffic or vehicle traffic is the only time one is really needed.

You are welcome. I am surprised that it took me quite a few times to really get use to the Mantis. But once I get the hand of it, it really behave. I have a front tine tiller so I never have to use it on the untilled ground. Infact I bought it mainly for dethatching, everything else is bonus far as I concern and I am truely surprised how useful it is. I never try the edger. I don't think it will work very well because it turn too slow.( they have reduction gear to gain the torque for tilling, so it only spin about 200rpm max. It is not going to give a very clean cut.) I forgot to say. It is perfectly ok for the motor at hanging position, no worry about smoke and all. One more thing you might know already but I just going to repeat. When you are going to put it away for a few months during winter: 1) Empty the gas. 2) Position the unit so the primer bult facing up and prime to empty all the gas out inot the gas tank. Pour any excess gas out of the tank. 3) Close the choke and try starting it. It should start and run for a few second. This will empty most of the gas within the carb. 4) If you can, keep the choke close, squeeze the throtle all the way and pull a few more times to such the remaining gas out of the carb. With that, you can store the unit. Gas is the single thing that can clog the carb if left inside for long period. This apply to all other equipments also. I am a home owner and don't use my stuff all year long. I need to do this also. YOu should add StaBil gas stablizer( get it in Home Depot) in gas to keep it fresh. Change oil half the recommended period. Also check the gear case to make sure it is full of greese. Mantis forgot to put greese in my gear box and it jam 8 months down the road!!!! That is the time I really got good service. They just sent me a new gear box, no question asked!!! Recieved in 5 days and they arranged to pick up the old gear box few days later!!! I don't have to do anything and don't have to pay shipment. Don't be scare of the gear box, everyone is entitled to make a bobo!!! It is the support that matter. I would check the greese level in your gear box anyway. Easy, just 4 screws.....read the instruction.

As many seem to be doing, I am weighing whether to purchase the Stihl MM55 tiller or a Mantis. My online research has revealed the opinion on the various blogs and message boards to be that the Stihl is a good tool and comparable in performance and quality to the Mantis in most every way. Opinions vary from person to person, but adjusting for this, the two seem to be in a statistical dead heat. However, I have noticed something which I feel may be the fatal flaw of the Stihl. Whether in Facebook video clips, or even in the demo video clips on the official sites of both brands, it looks like the Stihl just doesn?t dig down anywhere near as far as the Mantis. In the multiple clips I have viewed, rarely is the Stihl to be seen in up to the "axle"; that is, the rotational axis of the tines; but the Mantis can often be seen buried right up to the fender. Hence, the Stihl seems to only be providing half or less of the tilling depth on average as does the Mantis. Has anyone else noticed this? I have a theory as to why this tilling depth disparity exists? The in-line configuration of the Stihl; i.e., the engine being between the operator and the tines; combined with the design of the handlebars, which induce the operator to lean forward or hunch over, results in the tiller being held at a severe angle to the ground. If you envision the thing laying on the ground and call this "zero degrees" and imagine it standing perfectly vertical and call this "ninety degrees" it appears that in most Facebook clips of the tool in use and even the demo video clip on the official Stihl site the tiller is usually only 20-30 degrees from horizontal. I am not a physicist or a degreed engineer, but I have to believe this takes a lot of the Stihl?s weight off the tines and forces the operator to carry it. After all, the engine is between the end supported by the ground and the end supported by the operator, thus, the operator has to be carrying some of it. The closer to horizontal the tool is held the more weight is carried by the operator. For a nominally 20 pound tool, I would not be surprised if only 12 pounds or so was working to push the tines down into the ground. By contrast the configuration of the Mantis puts nearly all of its 20 pounds above the tines. I suspect the operator of the Mantis carries none of its weight, but rather only holds it up in operating position. This then accounts for the greater tilling depth I see the Mantis achieving. Any physicists out there care to comment?

---------------------------------------------------------- This is a letter sent to Honda Public Relations. Am awaiting a reply. In the meantime I am without the rototiller, and could use it for preparation of the garden bed for 2008 (25 September 2007) 25 September 2007 Honda Canada Inc. Power Equipment Public Relations 715 Milner Avenue Toronto, ON M1B 2K8 Dear Sir: Subject: Honda FG110 Rototiller. Claim for Warranty Service. 19 September 2007 I purchased the Honda FG110 Rototiller on 4 April 2006 from Brant Tractor Ltd, Brantford, Ontario. It worked until three days ago, but had been losing driving power the last few times it was used. I assumed there was something wrong with the engine, which was beyond my capabilities. It has performed well over the last year, used intermittently as required. I took it to the Farm Service Depot where it was purchased and was informed today that the Engine is finished. This unit was serviced very carefully, over the last year. Oil changes and air filter were cleaned religiously. The transmission was greased on a regular basis. I pointed out to the Service People that the engine warranty was for two years. The Service Depot did not volunteer this two year warranty information, which surprised me. The information about the warranty is in the Owners' Manual on Page 38.They told me they would contact Honda and let me know the decision. I truly love the little unit, and simply cannot garden without it. It has become my most useful garden tool. But I certainly expect it to last more than two seasons. I hope the problem was just an inherently faulty engine, and is not representative of the FG110. Update 21 September 2007 Honda FG110 Warranty Issue. I visited the Service Depot (Brant Tractor LTD) today where the Honda FG110 was purchased and was talking to the lady who had called Honda. The Lady told me there was no oil in the unit, and this was passed on to Honda. The Honda Representative told her it probably wouldnt be covered under Warranty. She had just got off the phone when I visited. I told the lady she had bad information. I had just changed the oil two days before taking it in for service, and had run the engine for about 10 minutes. After discussing it for awhile the lady talked to the person, who had inspected the unit. Then it came out that there was plenty of oil but that it was grey in colour. I had noticed this gray colour, since I had run the unit for about 10 minutes after changing the oil (10W30, which I always used. What caused the new oil to change colour to grey, after only about 10 minutes of running? Now the Service Manger is going to contact Honda again. Unfortunately, Honda now has the mis-information that the unit had no oil, and this obstacle will have to be overcome. Update 21 September 2007 Afternoon. I decided to call Honda ( 1-800 946 6329 ) to correct the mis-information that was given by the Farm Service Depot; in that the engine lacked oil. After explaining the issue, the lady (Jennifer) informed me that I had to have proof of oil changes. I told her that I did the oil changes myself, but she was insistent that I had to have documents. I told her proof of oil changes was irrational, and I told her it wasn't an automobile and to give me her supervisor. She put me on hold and came back after few minutes and told me she would contact the dealer and would get back to me. That is where the warranty issue remains for now. 25 September 2007 I called Honda again today, since I hadnÂt heard from Honda, which is probably normal since only two working days have passed. The thrust of the conversation was that Honda (Jennifer) would call me, and that I should contact the dealer, Brant Tractor Ltd, to clarify what information they passed onto Honda. 25 September 2007 I contacted Brant Tractor Ltd. The thrust of this conversation was that they had informed Honda that the oil was grey with filings, and that the air filter had been oil around the carburetor, sort of indicating that maintenance had been done. This means the previous mis-information has been corrected at least on the surface. The engine has not been taken apart so the damage or reason for cannot be ascertained. The general view seems to be a mindset that the engine may have lacked oil. This is simply not the situation, but never has the engine been low on oil, and all maintenance has been done far more than recommended. The oil was changed by me almost every time, that I filled the gas tank. Far more than the 50 hour running time recommended. I have three Honda Engines in my collection. A weedwacker, a lawnmower, and the rototiller. I buy Honda, sometimes at a higher cost, since I have confidence in their equipment, engines in particular. I also have an old Briggs and Stratton on my old large rototiller, plus a Yard Machine Chipper. I do the maintenance on all my garden equipment. There has to be something inherently wrong with the Engine on my FG110 rototiller, and it has nothing to do with maintenance. Never have I tried to claim on a Warranty. I feel so strongly about this warranty claim that I will only accept a replacement engine. The obstacle put up by the Hondo people about having proof of maintenance is illogical on such a small unit. The only proof I have is seven cans left in the box of 12 cans of oil (10W 30) that I purchase in bulk as required to service my yard engines. The only thing I can offer about oil changes is a sworn document signed by a notary, that I did the oil changes, which seems to be a bit ridiculous. I would like you to review this Hondo FG 110 Rototiller Warranty issue and decide in my favor. Details of the Equipment. Honda Mini-tiller FG110 Serial Number FAAA-1055259 Model 110G FN Purchased from: Brant Tractor Ltd 1324 Colbourne St W R.R. #4, Brantford, Ontario N3T 5L7 Phone 519 449 2500 branttractor@sympatico.ca Date of Purchase 4 April 2006. http://www.durgan.org/Blog/Durgan.html Durgan - Ontario, Canada Zone "5"